Wheel alignment - Should it be done before or after new tyres? (2024)

Hi all,

My dads W211 needs a wheel alignment as it pulls to the right.

It's gonna be given a good check over next week by Colin at MBS, once its been given a clean bill of health or if any work needs doing the car needs some new tyres and wheel alignment.

I've had contrasting information on if the alignment should be done before or after new tyres.

2 Mercedes Specialists have advised new tyres should be fitted before alignment due to any potential uneven wear on the tyre causing errors in the alignment.
Micheldever tyres have advised it doesn't really matter as the alignment is measured off the alloy.

Can anyone offer further advise on this at all?

Thanks

Xtractorfan said:

Both are correct, but it is always a good idea to have the new tyres fitted before doing the alignment.. Worn tyres tend to still wear in the pattern that they have established, so you wont get the full benefits of alignment until the tyres have been replaced..
There is a wheel alignment specialist on here called Wheels in motion.. so his 'thots on this would be well appreciated..

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Thanks for your thoughts.

I'm fully aware that I wouldn't get the full benefit from the alignment until I replaced the tyres.

My concern is that I'm probably going to get the alloys refurbished and get new tyres fitted at the same time.

In that scenario the nearest person with a Hunter system is 7 miles away and I don't want to do any damage to the lovely new tyres I've just paid for

whitenemesis said:

As long as the suspension has time to settle properly tyres can be fitted first. If you are having the work done at the same establishment then alignment first.

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Hi whitenemesis,

Do you mean once the wheels have been refurbished to let the car settle a bit as it's been sat in the air?

Unless I'm a bit tired, does your second part of the comment negates the first part a little?

Me being clear as mud as usual!!!

What you said, make sure the suspension has settled, preferably by driving a few miles.

My second statement means drive to garage, have alignment done then have tyres fitted. Not the other way round

whitenemesis said:

Me being clear as mud as usual!!!

What you said, make sure the suspension has settled, preferably by driving a few miles.

My second statement means drive to garage, have alignment done then have tyres fitted. Not the other way round

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Ahh I see

My logic thinking it would be better to get new tyres first but the likely hood is they won't done at same establishment so that is my only concern that I would need to drive 7 miles on the new tyres with off alignment.

Just to clarify, you think driving 7 miles on the new tyres wouldn't cause any damage despite the inaccurate alignment?

7 miles irrelevant unless the wheels are going sideways,

Get it all fitted, get the alignment, then drive the other 9,993 miles on them.

MLAM said:

Ahh I see

My logic thinking it would be better to get new tyres first but the likely hood is they won't done at same establishment so that is my only concern that I would need to drive 7 miles on the new tyres with off alignment.

Just to clarify, you think driving 7 miles on the new tyres wouldn't cause any damage despite the inaccurate alignment?

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7 miles won't have any significant effect on the tyres or future wear.

MLAM said:

I'm fully aware that I wouldn't get the full benefit from the alignment until I replaced the tyres.

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You won't, always get the tyres done first

MLAM said:

My concern is that I'm probably going to get the alloys refurbished and get new tyres fitted at the same time.

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That is no problem

MLAM said:

In that scenario the nearest person with a Hunter system is 7 miles away and I don't want to do any damage to the lovely new tyres I've just paid for

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7 miles will do the tyres no harm

Refurb alloys, fit new tyres, get alignment done.

A few days ago I noticed that one of my front tyres was wearing unevenly. This is one my my brand new tyres that I put on in October. I took it in to have the wheels aligned and was very surprised to see the intricate computerised set up used. The last car whose wheels I had aligned, the workshop in England put a contraption on each of the front wheels, pointed it at some scale on the wall and did the adjustments.

This set up, some information was typed into a computer, some diagrams came up on the screen then they connected a contraption on all four wheels. The car was lifted up then a bar on the wall in front of the car, with a set of lights on each end, was lowered. The mechanic played with the steering then went under the car and I suppose made the adjustments.

To come to the point of the thread, I was expecting the mechanic to say that I must change the tyre but he didn't - I was happy. The reason I had looked up the forum was to see what wheel alignment prices were like in the old country as I thought the quote here in Germany was high. I saw that someone mentioned about £100 so my cost of 75 euro (£63) was not so bad.

MissyD said:

Hi MLAM, when you get yours realigned, can you let us know how you get on as I need to get mine done, thanks

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Hi MissyD,

I will do indeed

Change of plan now, wheel refurb is holding off for now, but new tyres only.

Now it is likely the nearest place that has Hunter/John Bean system is 13 miles away, is this going to be a issue or long as its below a certain amount of miles it won't kill the tyre?